Navigating the Tangled Web of Naturalization in Saxony: A Long, Arduous Journey
Protracted Naturalization Process in Saxony - Obtaining Saxon Citizenship Typically Requires Lengthy Periods
Want to call Saxony your home? Don't hold your breath, mate! The path to naturalization in major cities like Leipzig, Dresden, and Chemnitz can stretch on for years, as revealed by responses from the German Press Agency to inquiries.
Sit tight if you're in Leipzig. The wait here averages around three years, according to the Greens. In Dresden, applications from December 2022 are still queuing up, with around 3,800 applications awaiting a caseworker. Chemnitz, too, is feeling the strain, with an average wait time of 18 months before the processing even begins, followed by three to four additional months.
The bottleneck in the system:Compare it to a test of endurance, mate!
Saxony's Commissioner for Foreigners, Geert Mackenroth, expresses grave concern. He's been inundated with queries reflecting the tense situation. He admits that a swift resolution is hard to come by. Leipzig has beefed up its staff, but the intricate citizenship law makes hiring and training a challenge.
Dresden talks of an ongoing overflow of the authority since 2021. An increase in applications, due in part to the Citizenship Modernization Act, and a rise in applications from long-term residents seeking naturalization, add to the problem. Furthermore, the city had to deal with around 80 inactivity lawsuits in 2024 alone. This trend alarms Mackenroth, who's also observed a growing number of these lawsuits.
The length of the wait also depends on the applicant's origin, identity documents, and cooperation. Procedures from countries like Eritrea, Somalia, or Afghanistan are particularly complex.
The authorities are making an effort to cope: In Chemnitz, for instance, new positions have been created, and staff has been reallocated from other departments. However, the city administration admits that catching up takes time, as staff turnover is a factor. The authority concedes that the number of applications at present exceeds the personnel available for timely, reasonable processing.
Digitizing the process with obstacles:From paperwork to digital systems, there's a hurdle at every step. In Dresden, for example, personnel expansion is hampered by budget constraints, and digitization is lagging. The lack of common guidelines, interfaces, and financial support compounds the issue.
Turning to technology, Mackenroth calls for comprehensive digitalization, AI utilization, regular training, and the exchange of experiences between authorities in the long run. The prioritization of routine cases for expedited processing is also under discussion.
Slow procedures: A potential setback for Saxony's economy and workforce recruitment.
Mackenroth warns, "Swift processing times are a must-have for a state that relies on skilled workers and actively recruits them from abroad due to its age structure." Delays in naturalization could potentially harm Saxony's economic prospects.
- Despite the lengthy three to four years wait for naturalization in Leipzig, the Greens affirm that additional staff have been hired to alleviate the burden.
- Dresden's onboarding process is ongoing due to a surge in applications from 2021, with over 3,800 waiting in the queue, and a further obstacle being the increase in lawsuits over inactivity.
- The intricate nature of citizenship law and staff turnover in Chemnitz hinder the swift processing of applications, still surpassing the available personnel for efficient work.
